France - Types of visa

Only people who are coming out of the European Community have to obtain a
visa. European people have only need to have a valid passport or a national
identity card. If you want to stay in France for working, you need to obtain
a residence permit at the Prefecture.

Two types of visa are necessary for people coming out of the
European Community :
- short-term visa : 3 months
- long-term visa : 6 months

short-term visa

A short-term visa is for tourists or people who just want to stay for
three months. However, a long-term visa is necessary for working in France.
To obtain it before your departure, you need to go to the French Consulate
or Embassy of your country. You find the address and phone number for all
the French Embassies here:
website: http://www.expatries.diplomatie.gouv.fr/annuaires/repdipet.asp

A long-term visa

For the long-term visa you need the following documents :
- a valid passport
- a work contract or a letter from your future employer in France
- a proof of health insurance
- the address of your future home in France

The residence card

If you want to stay in France more than three months, you need to obtain
a residence card. This residence card is compulsory for people coming out of
the European Community and from the European Community too.

European people
For obtaining your residence card you need to go to the townhall of your
city or at the Prefecture. It's better to go yourself in order to
obtain quickly this card. Be patient with the French administration and
everything will be fine !
Here are the documents, that you will need to present :
- three photographies of identity
- a valid passport
- a birth certificate
- a copy of your work contract (if you have)
- a proof of your address in France (bills like EDF-GDF or France
Telecom…)
- a document that proof you have got a health insurance or the form E111
will be fine
It's better to have several copies of each documents.

Non-European peopleBefore obtaining this card, your future employer must submit a
dossier to different French Administration offices. When you have got your
work contract, you can ask for a residence card within three months of your
arrival in France.
Here are the documents that you will need :
- three photographies of identity
- valid passport
- a birth certificate or family record book
- your work contract stamped by the OMI (International Migrations
Office)
- a proof of your French residence (bills like EDG-GDF or France
Telecom…)
It's better to have several copies of each documents.